Friday, July 11, 2008 - 06:52 pm, by: Ken Tran(King_qong)
I had my car for a check up today at MRT Performance in Rhodes, and the report revealed that my front passenger side wheel bearing "has excessive play(has failed) and requires replacement immediately".
I've done a search on the forum for wheel bearing and saw some clips on youtube so see what a bad wheel bearing looks like. I've shooked the wheel while on the ground and did not hear or feel any vibration. I then jacked up that wheel and tried shaking the wheel and there was little bit of movement - say 3mm or so? When I drive, I don't hear any clunking or weird high pitch noises, even at high speeds.
Is this called excessive play from what I've described? I've seen much much worse on youtube, to the point where its wobbly and obvious, but mines is no where near that bad.
I was going to Jenolan Caves tomorrow, hence the inspection. But looks like I will leave her at home. It sucks when my other friends are going in the integras, celica's and S15.. and me in my gf's Corrolla. Wonderful.
Friday, July 11, 2008 - 07:42 pm, by: Daniel Clarke(Dieseltrain)
3mm is not real good for wheel bearing... Are you sure the wheel nuts arent loose? As the wheel bolts hold the brake rotor on place, if the nuts become loose, this will rock !
Otherwise, wheel bearing needs doing.. Yes its major and can collapse and leave you stranded.. Have seen this on holdens and fords!
Friday, July 11, 2008 - 08:13 pm, by: Ken Tran(King_qong)
Nope. I don't think wheel nuts are loose. I had them done a brake flush as well, so they should have taken the wheels off and put them back on properly.
I won't take my car on the cruise to Jenolan.
Would it be ok for me to drive in it still? Say to work?
Where would you did get new wheel bearings from Luke?
Brian Timms Goo Roo New South Wales TT Soarer Goodness.
Friday, July 11, 2008 - 08:22 pm, by: Brian Timms(Turbo_brian)
Ken,
IF it's a wheel bearing, it's NOT SAFE. Dont listen to anyway, but think about this, if your driving along, do you want the random rare possibility of a wheel vanishing and disappearing while you drive??
If your a cheap bugger, you can get the hubs and bearings from my car, no issues or problems with the bearings, but you have to help get them off.
Friday, July 11, 2008 - 08:42 pm, by: Daniel Clarke(Dieseltrain)
Dont drive it mate... Can cause seriously bad accidents!!
My old mans Falcon had it happen, after un-named shop did brakes... Used 2nd hand wheel bearings when installing new rotors and left out one of the grease caps... He was driving along, all of a sudden, major wheel wobble and brakes extremely unsafe.. HAd to get it towed and remove replace the whole hub assembly as it welded itself on!
Friday, July 11, 2008 - 09:08 pm, by: Ken Tran(King_qong)
Well I just had a chat to Niall, and he doesn't think its a wheel bearing problem. Given his experience in soarers, he said that he would be very surprised if they were the bearings.
Going to take to him on monday to get it checked out properly.
I'm no cheap bugger Tim I want it done right.
They didn't fix it because I just asked for an inspection. So yeah.. they didn't do it.
Brian Timms Goo Roo New South Wales TT Soarer Goodness.
Friday, July 11, 2008 - 09:17 pm, by: Brian Timms(Turbo_brian)
Get it checked by someone who knows what they are looking at (so many pretenders in the market these days).
Get the car fixed, and then enjoy it, dont drive it in a 'dangerous' condition, if you cant afford to fix it, dont drive it unit you can get it fixed, not just for you, but for others on the road.
Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 09:54 am, by: Ken Tran(King_qong)
I had some time yesterday so I had a closer look at the problem. The wheel bearing is not moving at all! Its surface between the disc brake and the rim that is not completely flat that is causing the small movement. I think it could have been caused by the rim, cause the previous owner went over some pretty bad pot hots and buckled them, and perhaps over time did some damage to the rime itself not siting flat on the disc brake - thats just my guess.
Will confirm with Niall though.
Stuart Smith Tinkerer NEW SOUTH WALES SC400 V8 GT LIMITED
Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 12:37 pm, by: Stuart Smith(Leader428)
Ken Tran wrote on Friday, July 11, 2008 - 06:52 pm:
there was little bit of movement - say 3mm or so
Ken, Are you sure the movement is not play in the ball joints/suspension, have someone else grab the wheel(first at the 12:00/clock and 6:00/clock, then 3:00/clock and 9:00/clock positions) and wobble it while the car is jacked up and on stands and get under there with a flashlight and look at all the parts for possible wear/damage.
Monday, July 14, 2008 - 06:40 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
Wheel bearings almost always make a rumbling noise before they go. I've never had one thats allowed the wheel to move noticibly around when shaken by hand. Thats always due to wheel mounting issues or worn suspension components. If anything a stuffed bearing is more likely to cease up stopping the wheel from moving at all.
I had an inspection guy try and tell me my wifes car had a stuffed wheel bearing about a year ago, he claimed he could hear it, but I could not. After removing the hub sure enough the wheel bearing was just fine. Pissed me off no end that the hub had to come off to prove it to him though.
Monday, July 14, 2008 - 10:37 pm, by: Ken Tran(King_qong)
Yeah Stuart/Matthew, you guys were close/right. It turned out to be a worn tie rod. Hopefully now, I can drive over 100km/hr without being feeling uneasy with the rear vibrations.
Niall said that wheel bearings are rare to ever fail. He's only had 2 cases where the front failed and had to be replaced.